Resistant starch product gets second novel foods consultation, FSA

Tag : Starch
Phosphated di-starch phosphate is a modified resistant starch currently used as a food additive (E1413) in the EU as afreeze-thaw stable thickener in products such as soups, sauces,frozen gravies and pie fillings.

In August 2005, The US-based company sought novel food approval forits ingredient in order to be able to market it in Europe as asource of dietary fibre in low-moisture food products likebiscuits, cakes, crackers, tortillas and pasta.

An initial opinion on the ingredient, drafted by the AdvisoryCommittee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP), underwent a first consultation at the endof last year.

The opinion was subsequently amended in response to a comment madeby a member of the public so that it considers the consumption ofthe ingredient by people with renal disease.

The FSA on Wednesday announced it is to hold a second 10-dayconsultation on approving the starch product as a novel foodingredient.

Any comments should be sent to the ACNFP Secretariat.

Before any new food product can be introduced on the Europeanmarket, it must be assessed for safety. In the UK, the assessmentof novel foods is carried out by ACNFP, which is an independentcommittee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency.

Resistant starch

Resistant starch (RS) is so called because of its ability to resistdigestion in the small intestine, unlike most other starches.Instead, RS passes through to the large intestine where it actslike dietary fibre and improves digestive health.

Resistant starch occurs naturally in foods such as unripe bananasand cooked and cooled potatoes, but commercially produced RSingredients have started to appear on the market in order to allowfood manufacturers to incorporate the ingredient into theirproducts.

This has provided the industry with another means to tap intoopportunities gleaned from the growing trend for health andwellness foods, with resistant starch fitting squarely into thelow-glycaemic food trend, as well as health product positioningsuch as prebiotic fibre and healthy digestive system claims.

Indeed, according to National Starch , the last few years have witnessed a "significant increase" in interest for RS in its home country.

The firm markets its Hi-Maize corn-derived insoluble fibre producton five key benefits: a low calorie count, a good digestivetolerance, a promotion of digestive health, an ability to helpbalance energy after a meal, and an ability to help maintainhealthy blood sugar levels.